Some excellent reasons why you should visit Lucca
Ideas for a journey through art, curiosities and flavours
Even if you have arrived in Versilia to rest and relax by the sea, why not dedicate a day to take a trip to Lucca? In just 30′ by car or train from Viareggio you will find yourself in a pearl of Tuscany that is easy to visit and will give you great surprises.
1. Lucca is pedestrian
The ancient city walls keep out most cars, leaving a quiet historic centre ideal for walking or cycling. Unlike other, perhaps better known destinations, visitors and tourists do not rush to the next big attraction; one gets the impression of wandering among locals enjoying the Italian pace of life.
TIP – As with many other small Italian cities, finding parking can be a real challenge and is often a matter of luck. Have a look at the various car parks before arriving in Lucca, we’ll leave you with a few links, or consider arriving by train from Viareggio and loading your bike too… it will come in very handy!
2. Lucca can be visited by bicycle
One of the city’s most famous cycle routes is right on the ancient city walls, but Lucca clearly takes care to keep cars out of the centre, so it is a great option to cycle around the city centre.
3. every alley in Lucca is a postcard
Warm yellows and oranges, turquoise and deep emerald dominate Lucca’s palette, so remember to bring your camera with you because you may find yourself taking more photos in Lucca than you thought, it’s worth it!
4. splendid views of the city
A visit to Lucca would perhaps not be complete without climbing one of its two most important towers: Torre del Guinigi and Torre delle Ore
5. fascinating coffee and good food
Among the small pleasures that Lucca can offer you are many historical cafés and pastry shops where you can stop to rest, refresh yourself and to listen and observe the life of the city and its inhabitants. Two things that can cheer up your stroll through Lucca are the buccellato di Lucca at Pasticceria Taddeucci, for those who love sweets, and La Cecina, a kind of very low focaccia neither too crispy nor too soft made with water, chickpea flour, pepper, oil and salt; try it at Pizzerie da Felice and Sbragia in Via Buia n.12 and the second in Via Fillungo n.144
6. Lucca is Puccini’s birthplace
Lucca is the birthplace of Giacomo Puccini, whether you are an opera lover or not you will have the opportunity to visit his birthplace and perhaps discover the life and adventures of a world-famous composer, we leave you the link where you can check the opening hours and visits
7. historical and craft shops
Whether you are looking for a local speciality or just some olive oil and wine, there are plenty of shops scattered around the centre of Lucca where your heart’s deepest desires can be fulfilled: leather goods workshops, shoe workshops, fashion ateliers.
8. outside the streams
People have been calling Lucca the hidden gem of Tuscany for years now, but it is still true that droves of tourists and travellers have not yet invaded the city. One wonders why this is so!
Perhaps most people who come to Tuscany for a trip probably focus on Florence and Pisa and leave their little sister Lucca behind. You can be in the most magical place in the world, but if there are dozens of others there with you fighting for the same magical moment, something gets lost along the way. This is one reason why Lucca is very pleasant.
This is Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, an oval-shaped square on a former Roman amphitheatre, the right place to stop for an ice cream.
